FALLOUT

Horseback Border Agents to Be Punished for Migrant Confrontation

Agents are said to face “administrative violations” charges after already being cleared of criminal conduct.

Border Patrol agents who were initially accused of “whipping” Haitian migrants last September are set to face disciplinary action from the Department of Homeland Security, according to Fox News. An unidentified federal source cited by the outlet said the agents accused in the incident will be sanctioned with “administrative violations” after already being cleared of criminal conduct. An announcement on the incident is expected in the next few days. Disturbing pictures of the incident were played down in its aftermath by Border Patrol officials who said the mounted agents were not holding whips, but long reins used for controlling horses. But the episode nevertheless prompted widespread condemnation and calls for action. “There will be an investigation underway now and there will be consequences,” President Joe Biden said in September. “There will be consequences.”

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that while there were claims the Border Patrol agents whipped migrants with horse reins or ropes, an agency investigation has since found no one was struck. However, the investigation found that agents used inappropriate force and language, and one agent admitted “twirling these split reins as a distancing tactic.”